Tributes to Coleen
Several people have been moved enough by Coleen’s death to write a few words about her, myself included. I didn’t want those words to just get tossed in with other blog posts. I wanted these tributes to be special and have a place of their own here so I created this page for them.Barb Ulrich is a cancer survivor and a good friend of Coleen’s. Although they knew each other for only a year, it was a very important year. Barb and Coleen both had metastatic breast cancer and were sisters in survival. They developed a sort of mutual admiration society and inspired each other with their strengths and healing fortitude. Although they met as a result of their disease, under different circumstances I’m sure they would have been very good friends as well. There is a little more detail to their friendship here. Barb wanted to write a remembrance of Coleen and asked if it could be on the website. I am so honored to host it. It’s beautiful.
Leah Shearer is a woman from Rochester who first encountered Coleen in 2006. Leah had been diagnosed with cancer and called the western New York chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society where Coleen was the Patient Services Manager. Leah posted this beautiful tribute to Coleen on her blog shortly after she heard of Coleen’s passing.
Our daughter Lindsay prepared a eulogy for her Mom and delivered it at the brunch we had for Coleen after her service. It was very sweet, just like Lindsay. I give her so much credit for writing it and then actually saying it without falling apart.
We held Coleen’s funeral service at the church she and I have been attending since her initial diagnosis in 2006. St. Paul’s Cathedral is a beautiful Episcopal church in downtown Buffalo. Mother deLiza Spangler is the Cathedral Dean and Rector and she was the Celebrant for the service. Mother Liza and Coleen knew each other fairly well and had met privately to discuss spirituality. In the Episcopal church, there is no eulogy during the funeral service but the deceased is mentioned prominently throughout the service and the sermon is somewhat customized. Mother Liza did a magnificent job that day, especially with her sermon. During her sermon, which emphasized Coleen’s love of light, a bolt of brilliant sunlight came shining through one of the stained glass windows on the side of the church. And it settled right on the first two pews where I was sitting with our children and grandchildren. Some things are just too coincidental to be coincidences.
Janice Litz was a work colleague of Coleen’s and a fellow social worker. This is what Jan wrote on Coleen’s funeral guest book page:
Dear Colleen’s Family, It was a very sad day learning about Colleen’s passing and struggle with cancer. Colleen was my social work intern at Roswell when she was finishing up her Masters program at UB. She was the best intern that I ever had. She always made me laugh with her dry sense of humor and often shared stories about her beautiful family and how proud she was of her children. She was a true asset to the staff, patients, families and me as an intern. It was sad when her internship ended and she moved on. However, our relationship continued in her role as social worker for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We often talked about the groups that we jointly ran and the ongoing support she provided in that role. She never faltered in her dedication to the patients and families that she served. Her beautiful smile, wonderful sense of humor, compassionate ways and love of her family and friends will be truly missed. Please accept my deepest sympathy during your saddest of times. You will be missed Colleen!!!! Janice Litz
